The Signature | June 22, 2018

Red, White, and Boom! FAQs

A Cultural Exchange Between American and Italian Women

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This Week in Navy History

N A S SIG O N E L L A

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JUNE 22, 2018

Vol. 35 No. 24

NAS Sigonella Holds College Graduation

SIGONELLA, Sicily (June 13, 2018) Service members and civilians onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella celebrate as they move their graduation tassels to the left side of their caps during a college graduation ceremony in the base chapel. NAS Sigonella is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)

By MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella held a graduation ceremony for 64 service members and civilians in the NAS 1 Chapel June 13.

Of the 64 graduates, 39 earned associates degrees, 17 earned bachelors degrees, and 8 earned masters degrees, all from 17 different schools.

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory White hosted the ceremony and gave the microphone over to Jay Oshiro, NAS Sigonella’s Navy College Office representative, for opening remarks.

“Friends, family, graduates, congratulations. This is your day,” said Oshiro. “But first, all of this was made possible by the wonderful school representatives onboard NAS Sigonella who put this entire ceremony together.”

Following Oshiro was the guest speaker, Cmdr.

Patrick Moran, executive officer, NAS Sigonella.

“No one asked you to open a stack of books following an arduous day, but you did,” said Moran.

“No one told you to set aside already scarce family time to attend an online course or remote lec-

ture, but you did. No one said you should rearrange months of your life to accomplish your course requirements, but you did. No one asked you to do anything that you did to get here today, but you did.

You sought out the programs, you understood the requirements, and you made the commitment.”

Moran continued his speech by speaking about his own college experience and how it related to the graduates’. He then finished his speech with a request.

“Please do this: pass the word,” said Moran. “Be an advocate to not only continued education but also for the tremendous opportunities available to you in the Navy and indeed in any service. Your success in your graduation here today is the best advertisement for those programs and for people to succeed in the future.”

Now is the time to start or continue one’s college career. According to NETPDTC 1560 the Navy supplies 100% tuition and fees, not to exceed $250 each semester credit hour for 16 Semester hours every fiscal year. Additionally, most service members have accrued credits on their Join Services Transcript (JST) for achievements like boot camp, A and C Schools, and advancement in rank.

Schooling opportunities are vast at NAS Sigonella, with representatives from University of Maryland University College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Central Texas College and University of Phoenix at the Navy College Office on base.

According to a Navy Times analysis of data obtained from the Navy Advancement Center, advancement rates among Sailors rising to E-4 through E-6 with degrees has been over 31 percent, far higher than the rate of 23 percent among those without degrees. Additionally, enlisted Sailors with college degrees have increased fivefold over the past few years, from about 11,000 in 2011 to 60,000 in 2015.

For more information on earning your degree or using Tuition Assistance, visit www.navycollege. navy.mil.

NAS Sigonella, “The Hub of the Med”, is a U.S. Navy installation and an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. NAS Sigonella is the Navy’s second largest security command, second only to that located at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Because of its location near the center of the Mediterranean Sea, NASSIG is well placed to support operations by the U.S. 6th Fleet, other U.S. military units, and U.S. allies and coalition partners.

THE SIGNATURE

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JUNE 22, 2018

Direct Line

Bruce W. Stryker, Jr. Manager, Navy Federal Credit Union Sigonella Your defense (how well you save and invest) is more important than your offense (how much you earn). Put a good defense together with a good offense (as your pay increases during your career) and there will be no stopping you.

Time is your friend, don’t waste it.

Start saving and investing part of the income from your first job and increase your savings rate as your pay increases over time. If you increase your spending at the same or higher rate than your pay increases you will find it difficult to become financially secure. It becomes progressively harder to catch up the older you are when you start.

You must live below your means to be financially successful. I’ve worked with E6/E7 personnel in their early 30’s with a net worth of over $250,000. I’ve also worked with O5 personnel who give the appearance of wealth but have a negative net worth since their debts are larger than their assets. Make sure what you spend your money on gives you value. Don’t let your neighbors or friends influence these decisions.

Three factors interact to determine how large your financial assets will become: Time (how long you have to save and invest for a financial goal), Savings Rate (how much new savings you contribute each pay period) and Rate of Return (growth in your investments which is driven by the amount of risk you take). To a certain extent you can compensate for a weakness in one area by improving the other two.

Most people don’t realize their largest financial goal will likely be saving for retirement. Private industry largely eliminated pensions and created 401K retirement savings plans in the 1980’s.

DOD statistics indicate over 80% of the people who join the military leave before they have served long enough to earn a pension. For most retirees that means they will be living on only their Social Security benefits and any personal savings they have. The Social Security system is under financial pressure which will eventually require Congress to raise social security taxes and/or lower benefits to sustain the program in the future. Consequently

the retirement income shortfall will have to be made up from your own efforts in saving and investing over your working lifetime. You don’t want to find yourself with your back against the wall as you enter retirement, the time to start preparing for retirement is now when you have the time to grow your assets. Slow and steady wins the race.

TSP is an excellent way to save for retirement. TSP investment choices are limited to broad index funds that provide market exposure at an extremely low cost, and costs matter! The C, S and I funds provide you with exposure to the stock market (where you accept more risk and consequently have a higher expected return) while the G and F funds are Bond funds (which have lower risk and consequently have a lower expected return). If you don’t feel comfortable deciding on the mix of the five available fund choices, TSP created the L funds based on your expected retirement year. These funds manage the mix of the five funds for you. When you are younger they have a larger stock exposure and as you age

and come closer to retirement they reduce your stock exposure and while increasing your bond holdings. Don’t just stand there, do something!

People who write out their financial goals usually accomplish a lot more than people who don’t. Financial goals must have a dollar value and a timeframe, otherwise they are just a dream.

If you are not achieving your financial goals and they are written out you will tend to make the adjustments required to get you back on track. If your goals

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Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Sug-

gestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks.

Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard

those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program!

There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu.

– or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".

Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment regarding “Barracks Air Conditioner”:

I pushed to have the AC turned on for my people for about two weeks when I was finally met with the following response from Public Works: Heating Issue: B170 - MAU1 cooling/heating actuator is not working properly WO# BR9HC7 - This affects the building temperature only while the heat is on, in layman’s terms it’s constantly leaking hot water into the exchange causing the large east wing of B170 to run roughly 2-3 degrees Celsius hotter than the west wing. As of 1400 today, the heating for B170 is OFF (controlled from here at PWD). Not only will this stop that issue, but it should also pump the colder night air into the building keeping it "cooler" during the day. B623 - SR#15233302; The heating can only be viewed at PWD, and requires HVAC Shop to manually turn off the heating (I will push this one as an urgent request).

Not only do I not understand why a heater has been kept on all the way to May, but I don't understand why it has to be requested to be turned off?

Response:

Thank you for your question. While the HVAC in building B170 has been in working order for a couple of weeks now, your question remains to be answered: "Why a heater has been kept on all the way to May, and I don't understand why it has to be requested to be turned off?"

Your buildings HVAC system is an older "two pipe" system, meaning that

either the HVAC system is provided heat from a boiler or it is being provided cooling from a chiller. This unit is unable to provide both heating and cooling at the same time unlike newer automatic systems can.

As the summer season begins and the days start to become warmer but the nights remain cool, we leave the heat on until the weather meets the standards / guidelines of our base instruction. Once this decision point is met we start to turn over buildings from heating to cooling. At this same time our personnel perform regular maintenance to the equipment.

Under heating or cooling mode the temperature is regulated by thermostats that control the internal temperatures within the buildings. In one particular instance there was a problem with the switching valve that needed to be repaired, and this is why your building was overheating.

Finally, because switching from heat to cooling is not automatic, there must be a work request placed with PW to perform this work. The "request to turn off" the heat actually turns out to be a request to turn the heat off, perform regular maintenance, and turn on the cooling cycle.

If you would like to discuss this further or have related questions please contact Jonpaul 'JP' Thomasseau, Deputy Public Works Officer, NAS Sigonella, NAVFAC EURAFSWA at jonpaul.thomasseau@eu.navy.mil.

"ICE" continued on Page 3

THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 22, 2018

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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA

Name: Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Joshua Neal Department: : EOC Hometown: Sikeston, Missouri Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s Armory, Auxiliary Security Forces (ASF), Navy Munitions Command (NMC), Emergency Dispatch and Emergency Management all have very specific jobs, and one would expect five different Sailors to only have the specific skillsets required to successfully complete each of those unique missions; but that’s not the case for Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Joshua Neal.

Neal currently works as the emergency preparedness coordinator at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), but before that he assisted security personnel by manning the front gate, worked closely with NMC by both taking classes and giving classes on Gunner’s Mate specific training, worked at the armory and achieved all of his Gunner’s Mate qualifications, and worked as a lead emergency dispatcher at the EOC. On top of that laundry list of activity, he

"DIRECT LINE" cont’d from Page 2 are not written out, you will tend to reduce your goals so you feel better about achieving your now reduced goals.

Credit card and other high interest debt is dangerous to your financial health. Line up your debt from highest to lowest interest rate. Pay the minimum required amount on debts two through the lowest interest rate debt and put everything you can afford on the highest in-

is now in charge of roughly 60 emergency preparedness hazard plans. What that means is, if a flood, fire, earthquake, active shooter, or any other imagined emergency scenario occurs, Neal is responsible to ensure the Sigonella community is prepared.

“Before the Navy I was so used to the

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EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writer \ Photographer MC2 Christopher Gordon Christopher.Gordon@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887

terest rate debt. Once the highest interest rate debt is paid off, move down to the second high interest rate debt and continue down the list as you pay them all off. Commit to never paying an interest charge on your credit cards. Pay off the statement balance in full by the due date and you receive an interest free loan.

To avoid high interest rate debt, make sure you have an adequate emergency fund. The appropriate size of your emergency fund depends on your individual

"ICE" continued from Page 2

Comment Regarding “Commercial Carrier Mail Services”

It's PCS season, once again and I see many people trying to find the local FED EX or DHL, only to be lost. Is there a reason that the commands receive and send mail via these services, but individuals are not permitted to do so? Thank you.

Response:

kind of jobs that you check in, have a strict workload, then check out and go home; here at EOC it’s more of a leadership job,” said Neal. “It covers multiple areas and it’s all up to me to assess what I need to get done, what I can do to make

Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada

Greetings Sir or Ma'am, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is the only command on base that allows other commands to utilize FED EX or DHL services to receive and ship parts or supplies. DLA does not offer these services for personnel on base because they are required to only use military funding to charge commands. If customers decide to ship a personal item via commercial carriers (DHL, Fedex or UPS), they will have to turn over their item along with their prepaid documents directly to the local carriers. The customer will also have to compete the customs documents (302) from Fleet Logistics Center prior to turning over the item to the carrier. It is recommended for customers to use the Fleet Mail Center for personal services. Thank you for your comment. If you have any more questions or would

circumstances. Financial planners will usually say your emergency fund should have between 3 to 6 months of your expenses. I feel it depends, if you are leaving the military and plan on opening your own business you may need a much larger emergency fund. If you just reenlisted, your career is going well and no one is dependent on you for financial support, you could probably have a smaller emergency fund. Emergency funds should be kept in a safe, liquid account.

like to discuss this further you are always welcome to contact Postal Officer, Lt. Joseph Green, by email at Joseph.green@ eu.navy.mil or by phone at 624-5558.

Comment regarding “BZ for NEX employee”

We were unable to reach the commissary customer service by phone for over 30 minutes when we finally called the NEX customer service desk. The lovely woman on the other end of the line went above and beyond to get us in touch with the right people (including walking over to the commissary herself to get contact numbers for us). Thank you so much to the ladies at the NEX customer service desk for such excellent service.

Response:

Thank You for your comment regarding the Premiere Customer Service you received at the Navy Exchange. Our NEX Customer Service Desk associates take great pride in the service they provide to the Sigonella community, and make every effort to exceed expectations. I will ensure your comment is passed on and that our Customer Service Team is given a letter of appreciation on your behalf.

Thank you for your comment as it is feedback such as this that helps us to continue to improve, as well as give proper recognition to deserving associates.

This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or patron.

A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected.

The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy.

Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887.

E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it.

Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands.

Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy. mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.

The Signature will not publish any anonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.

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THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 22, 2018

Red, White and BOOM Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) Q: As a base employee, how many guests can I bring to Red, White, and Boom?

A: All adult U.S. ID card holders are allowed to sponsor up to five (5) guests who do not have Department of Defense (DOD) Identification. In addition, base employees (both U.S. and Local Nationals) may also sponsor up to five (5) guests who do not have DOD Identification.

Q: How do my guests gain access to the base?

A: Sponsors should accompany their guests and enter at the Annex Gate, which will open at 1700.

Sponsors and all guests must bring valid photo identification. The Main Gate will be closed to all without DOD ID cards. Any guest who does not provide photo identification will not be allowed access to Red, White, and Boom. Guests will not be allowed access without their sponsors.

Q: Will there be a guest list so my guests can access the base without their sponsor?

A: No. Guests must be accompanied by their sponsor. If the sponsor is not present, guests will be turned away at the Annex Gate. Assuring that guests are not left stranded at the gate is another reason we strongly encourage sponsors to car pool with their guests. If for some reason this is not possible, sponsors should pre-plan a designated meeting place away from the Annex Gate.

Q: Do base employees have to stay with their sponsored guests during the event?

A: Yes. Sponsors, both U.S. and local nationals, will be held responsible for the conduct and general whereabouts of their guests. Sponsors should also personally know the guests they are bringing to the Red, White, and Boom event. Base employees should not agree to sponsor people they don't know well.

Q: Will parking be provided inside the base?

A: No. Only DoD ID card holders will be permitted to park on base via the Main Gate.

Q: Where can guests find event parking outside the base?

A: For a small fee, business owners directly across the NAS 1 Main Entrance have agreed to provide parking in their lots. We kindly ask that guests do not park on SS-192, the street that runs in front of the NAS 1 installation.

Q: Will alcohol be served?

A: Yes. No glass bottles or outside drinks will be permitted in the festival area. Also, Breathalyzers will be administered to those driving a vehicle. Anyone who plans to drive should abstain from consuming alcohol. Legal actions will be taken against those who are driving and have exceeded the legal limit of alcohol. Sponsors, both U.S. and local nationals, will be held responsible for the conduct and general whereabouts of their guests.

Q: When will the parking lots on NAS 1 secure in preparation for Red, White and Boom?

A: The following is a list of NAS 1 parking lot closure dates and times in preparation for the event: - Fitness Center/Connections parking lot: Monday, 25 June at 11 p.m.

- ITT/Community Recreation parking lot: Wednesday June 27 at 11 p.m.

- Child Development Center (CDC) parking lot: Friday, June 29 at 11 p.m.

To help those who rely on parking that will be closed during event preparations, preferred parking on NAS 1 will be temporarily available to all. Vehicles parked in secured locations after the times listed above will be towed at the owner’s expense. These areas will be secured until after the event has concluded and the parking lots have been cleaned.

Q: What kind of bags will not be allowed on base?

A: Only purses and diaper bags are authorized. Coolers and backpacks will not be authorized. No exceptions.

Bags exceeding 12”x 6”x 12” (30cm x 15cm x 30cm) dimension also will not be allowed to enter the base. Au-

thorized bags will only be allowed after they have been screened.

Q: What about strollers and Diaper Bags for those with small children?

A: Strollers will be allowed for caretakers of small children after screening. The same applies to diaper bags as long as they do not exceed the following dimensions: 12”x 6”x 12” (30cm x 15cm x 30cm).

Q: What are the base entry restrictions?

A: The following items are STRICTLY PROHIBITED from being brought onto the base - Pets, glass bottles, containers, backpacks, and contraband (including box cutters or other sharp objects).

Q: I know contraband is prohibited. But what items are considered contraband?

A: Knives of any size, BB Guns (Air Soft), sling shots, fireworks of any kind, illegal drugs, and any other items the CO deems as contraband. We require guests to use common sense. If the item presents a potential threat to the base, do not attempt to bring it to the event.

Q: Is smoking allowed at the event?

A: Yes, but limited to one designated area, which will be identified on the event map.

Q: Will restrooms be available at the celebration?

A: Yes. The locations will be identified on the event map.

Q: Will shuttle services run in the “Triangle?”

A: Yes. The shuttle will run between 1630 and 2330. The shuttle will pick-up and drop-off riders at NAS 1 in the loop near the DODDS School; at NAS 2 in front of the Flight Clinic; and at Marinai at the first bus stop inside of the main gate near the Youth Center.

Q: Will NEX and Commissary hours stay the same during the event?

A: Yes. The NEX and Commissary will retain normal business hours during the event. Anyone wanting to enter the NEX or Commissary will need to provide a valid ID. Beer and/or alcohol that is purchased at the NEX will not be allowed at the event site.

Q: What time will the fireworks display happen?

A: The fireworks are scheduled for 10:00pm. This time may fluctuate due to the fact that we are at the mercy of the Catania airport and may have to slightly alter the time due to flight schedules. Announcements will be made during the event if the time will have to be adjusted.

Q: Anything else?

A: Please use caution while transiting to and from NAS 1 as there will be increased traffic and parked vehicles outside of the installation.

For more event information, please visit www.navymwrsigonella.com or call 624-4941 (+39-095-56-4941).

JUNE 22, 2018

THE SIGNATURE

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Sigonella Honors First DAISY Award Recipient LT Melissa P. Muna

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to honor the nurses that go above and beyond the call of duty and leave everlasting impressions on patients and families every day. This program is internationally recognized in over 3,000 healthcare facilities spanning 50 states and 17 countries.

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes who died from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. During his eight week hospitalization, his father, Mark Barnes stated that “during those weeks, we experienced the best of Nursing. We were there to see the clinical skill that dealt with his very complex medical situation, the fast thinking of nurses who saved his life more than once, and that nursing excellence that took years to hone to the best of the profession. They truly helped us through the darkest hours of our lives, with soft voices of hope and strong loving hugs that to this day, we still feel.”

During this past Nurses’ Week U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella honor’s our DAISY Award recipient, Terri D. Collins for her demonstration of exemplary compassion and caring for her patients. When Terri first arrived in Sigonella, she volunteered as a FNP with the American Red Cross. She is currently working as an ambulatory care Registered Nurse at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella’s Medical Home Port.

The following is brief excerpt from Terri’s amazing nomination from LT Joshua T. Lange, “I observed the relationship that Terri established with a certain family who has a child with ongoing surgical needs. Terri engaged with this family from the beginning with the preterm birth of their son and his subsequent NICU admission. She gave insight and information to a family that was struggling to grasp the implications of an already scary life-altering moment in their family. […] She made the immense work of coordinating care seem simple to the family allowing them to trust in her expertise and focus on their child.

Her loyalty and dependability clearly impacted this family and she stands out as an example of the inherent ‘good’ a nurse can do when they commit to ‘walking’ with a patient in his or her difficulties or sufferings.”

All nominations were scored by representatives from various hospital directorates based on special connection with patients, situation in which the nurse went about and beyond the delivery of care, demonstration of exemplary compassion, inclusion of patient/ family in plan of care, and how well he/she worked with the healthcare team to meet patient and family needs.

It is no surprise that nurses have been rated the highest in honesty and ethical standards among professions for 15 years straight in Gallup’s annual poll. All nurses should be honored by this achievement. This was a wonderful way to celebrate nurses’ week and the 110th Birthday Navy Nurse Corps!

Terri D. Collins receives the DAISY award. (Photo by Lt. Mark Knutson)

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THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 22, 2018

Saint Paul Festival Returns to Palazzolo Acreide (June 28-29) Story by Alberto Lunetta

Devotion and folklore will come alive in Palazzolo Acreide next week as rejoicing crowds will take to the streets for the traditional Festa di San Paolo (Saint Paul Feast). Palazzolo, a pearl of the Sicilian Baroque architectural style, is a small town nestled among the hills of the Siracusa province. Every year on June 28 and 29, thousands of pilgrims gather at the church of San Paolo to honor their beloved celestial patron.

Saint Paul is depicted as a bearded man holding a sword pointing upward and a book from which a snake hangs downwards. Also invoked for healthy crops and for the healing of children affected by hernias, he is considered as protector from snake bites and scorpion and tarantula stings. According to tradition, a viper bit Saint Paul, but the venom had no effect on him because of his supernatural powers. "San Paulu, maccia d'addauru, spina puncenti, nun muzzicari a mia e mancu a la genti" (Saint Paul, laurel tree, stinging thorn, don’t bite neither me nor other people). This invocation, which was said to protect against those deadly bites, was given to devotees in return for offerings to Saint Paul by the “Ciarauli” who, according to legend, were shamans with supernatural healing powers. Typically born on the night between Jan. 24 and 25 (the night of Saint Paul’s conversion), they were believed to heal the poisonous bites with saliva and prayers. According to popular credulity, Ciarauli also had physical birthmarks on their body (bumps with tarantula or snakes’ shapes under their tongue or on their arms) that would prove their destined supernatural calling.

Tradition holds that they attended Saint Paul festivals to collect the “dedicated gifts” which devotees had promised to give to Saint Paul to thank him for a miracle. Ciarauli were skilled in snake handling techniques that they used to impress pilgrims.

During the festival, devotees also buy the traditional "Cudduri di San Paulu," (elaborate votive ring-shaped bread) which is offered to relatives and friends for good luck.

The Saint Paul festival, which is also celebrated in several neigboring towns such as Buccheri, Buscemi, Ferla, Cassaro, Giarratana, Monterosso, Canicattini and Solarino, is the main religious event in Palazzolo. Over the centuries, Saint Paul became more popular than Saint Sebastian, the other protector who is indeed considered as a “minor” patron saint and is celebrated on Aug. 10 in Palazzolo. Supporters of Saint Paul are called “Sampaulari” while the ones upholding Saint Sebastian are named “Sammastianari.”

Festival Highlights Saturday - June 28: “Giro di Gala” (parade with Giarratana drummers, town’s flags and banners, town bands and horse parades – 6:30 p.m.); “A Sciuta Ra Cammira” (public unveiling ceremony of the 16th century statue depicting the venerated saint and the Holy Relic - 8:30 p.m. San Paolo Church); Italian pop singer Marcella Bella concert (10 p.m. Piazza G. Nigro).

Sunday, June 29: Blessing of animals and bread (9 a.m.); Solemn Holy Mass (11 a.m.); “Sciuta” (The highlight of the festival, it is the “exit” of Saint Paul and the parade of his float. His statue is carried in procession by devotees and barefoot pilgrim women who scream “Viva San Paulu patronu!” or “Long live Saint Paul, the patron!” throughout the town historic center among noisy firecrackers and colorful ribbons called “Nzareddi”; the traditional blessing of the babies is also performed -1 p.m.); Holy Mass (6:30 p.m.); Evening procession (8 p.m.); Musical show (10 p.m.); Spectacular grand finale with fireworks (midnight).

For more information visit, https://www.facebook.com/ sanpaolopalazzolo/

Acitrezza honors St. John the Baptist this weekend

By Alberto Lunetta From June 23 through 25, Acitrezza will host an intense religious festival in honor of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist), the town’s patron saint. During the celebrations, religious processions will be held throughout the historic center of the town and along the seaside. Spectacular performances such as the “U pisci a mari” (the fish in the sea) pantomime and the “Calata dell’Angelo” (descent of the angel) will also be staged.

The Parrocchia di San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist

It’s that time of the year again! Make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to see how the community of the enchanting Baroque town of Palazzolo Acreide keeps alive an ancient tradition displaying deep religious devotion to its celestial protector San Paolo. The blessing of the children is one of the highlights of the spectacular religious and folkloristsic festival held on June 28 and 29.

(Photo by Town of Palazzolo Acreide Tourist Office)

Parish) is the hub of this religious festival and it preserves the wooden statue depicting San Giovanni Battista and the saint’s relics.

Prince Stefano Riggio, the founder of Acitrezza, built the Parrocchia di San Giovanni Battista to replace another church erected in 1678 and dedicated to San Giuseppe (Joseph) which

was destroyed by one of the worst earthquakes ever reported in Sicily as it flattened much of the Ionian Coast from Messina to Catania.

Prince Riggio was sent to Catania from Palermo by the Vicerè di Sicilia

"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14

THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 22, 2018

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Mattis: Naval War College Grads Will Tackle Today's Security Challenges

By Terri Moon Cronk Dept. of Defense

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis told this year's U.S. Naval War College graduates, June 15, he is confident they'll carry forward the legacy of the school's founding officers as they take their intellectual firepower forward to tackle the security challenges of our time. "[We] are witnessing a world awash in change - a world beset by the reemergence of great power competition, and we define the categories of challenges as urgency, power and political will," the secretary said at the school's Newport, Rhode Island, campus.

"We see urgency epitomized by the North Korea situation, as well as by the threat from violent extremist organizations - two very different challenges that have our ongoing attention," Mattis said.

And, while a possible new avenue to peace exists with North Korea, he said, the United States remains vigilant in pursuing denuclearization anywhere in the world.

Half-a-world away, despite the U.S.-led coalition's significant success against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, extremist organizations continue to sow hatred in the Middle East and murder innocents around the world, from Europe and Africa to South Asia and the Sulu Sea, the secretary said.

"Mattis" continued on Page 15

Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis addresses students of U.S. Naval War College's (NWC) 2018 graduating class during a commencement ceremony. The graduating class of 2018 included 323 resident students of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, federal civilian employees and 103 international students. Additionally, 1,109 students completed coursework through NWC's College of Distance Education programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jess Lewis/Released)

My Navy Portal Releases Latest Upgrade My Navy Portal (MNP) upgraded to a new version this month which includes significant performance enhancements across the entire portal. The software platform used to build MNP was upgraded to a new version (Liferay DXP). Every page in MNP has been completely redesigned for a clean, modern design.

MNP addresses one of the major issues Sailors face when managing their careers—the large number of websites and databases that they need to use to perform routine and common HR tasks. MNP consolidates the Navy’s Human Resource (HR) portals, knowledge, and applications into a consolidated and simplified user experience.

Here are some of the changes Sailors will notice:

- The MNP home screen has been redesigned and the photo carousel has been removed - All Career & Life Event (CLE) icons have been updated with new images - The MNP search function has been improved - MNP pages will load faster and overall performance has been improved - Ability to fill out and submit a Physical Activity Risk Factor Questionnaire (PARFQ) Updates to MNP occur on a quarterly basis, so expect to see new content and capabilities roughly every 3 months. The incremental release of MNP began in early 2017 and when work on MNP is completed in 2020, the high-level benefits to Sailors will include: - A truly integrated “One Stop

Shop” to manage and view personnel and career information.

- Integrated sign on capability to access capabilities more seamlessly - “Self-service” web enabled capability resulting in increased user effectiveness and productivity - Significantly less frustration and time spent searching for information across multiple applications and systems MNP content is based on real tasks that Sailors must perform to manage their Navy careers. Information in MNP is divided into 10 categories called Navy Career & Life Events (CLEs). When CLEs are fully developed, Sailors will be guided through a task-based process to view their data, complete associated tasks, and find help or support if they need it.

CLE categories in MNP 1. New to the Navy 2. Advancement & Promotion 3. Assignment, Leave, Travel 4. Career Planning 5. Deployment & Mobilization 6. Pay & Benefits 7. Performance 8. Retirement & Separation 9. Sailor & Family Support 10. Training, Education, Qualifications MNP is accessible to all Sailors via login with a CAC. To log in to MNP, visit: http://my.navy. mil and choose either the MNP Low Bandwidth Mode or High Bandwidth Mode Login button.

For Sailors afloat or ashore in areas with limited bandwidth, choosing Low Bandwidth Mode removes all photos, graphics, and formatting found on the High Bandwidth Mode version

of MNP in order to minimize the time it takes for each page to load in your browser. The low bandwidth version of MNP loads faster, performs smoother, and allows you to quickly complete Navy career tasks in MNP. MNP is being built by Sailors, for Sailors and we want your feedback! Do you have a suggestion to improve MNP? Did you find a broken link or missing information? Please use the built-in feedback mechanisms to submit feedback directly to the MNP team.

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JUNE 22, 2018

A Cultural Exchange Between Mashed Potatoes or Frittata

By Lana H Sigonella’s All Officers Spouses’ Club (AOSC) was hosted by local nationals from Siracusa’s “Club del Fornello” for a cultural cooking exchange on June 3. This was the second meeting between the two groups.

This time, they met at the Casale Barberi near Siracusa, a location which provided a beautiful outdoor seating area and wide open kitchen with plenty of space for cooking.

The Italian women cooked meals that are unique to Sicily and used ingredients most commonly found in Siracusa. Some of the meals were family traditions and new even to some of the Italian women. The first dishes were Nfiggihiulata, bread with an olive oil and salt spread, Pasta alla Norma, and frittata di patate.

Nfiggihiulata is similar to a cinnamon roll in shape but has a minty taste. Frittata di patate is very similar to quiche and was described by the Italian women as a potato omelet. The American women also brought an appetizer dish to share. They discussed how to make red pepper jelly using alternatives to some peppers that may be harder to find in Sicily.

For the main co Fornello Siracusa pr barbecue and joked need for an explanati know barbecuing bes what went into their alla Siracusa which, d pepperoni and is actual dish. The American w and mashed potatoes f Italian women joked a ketchup, which accom The Italian women h mashed potatoes and the process necessary t For dessert, the Clu provided sweet liquo variations of chocolate wine. The American w alcohol. To wrap up t Fornello Siracusa ser drink similar to lemon While food was heart of the event wa

JUNE 22, 2018

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American and Italian Women: a di Patate? Why not both?

Henderson

ourses, the Club del repared meat on the about there being no ion because Americans st. They also explained other dish, Pepperoni despite its name, has no lly a pepper and almond women served meatloaf for their main dish. The about America’s love of mpanied the meatloaf. had a similar dish to d seemed familiar with to create the dish. ub del Fornello Siracusa ors, including different e alcohol, white and red women brought bayleaf the meal, the Club del rved canarino, a hot n tea. the centerpiece, the as the camaraderie and

conversation. Attendees discussed the recipes they had exchanged and similarities of dishes to their home country’s. Jokes and laughter filled the air with the language barrier being no match for rich cultural exchange. For Sigonella’s AOSC, they went home with new dishes to try making at home, a gift of dried bay leaves, and new friendships.

AOSC Vice President Ashley Terpstra attended both of the Sicilian/American cooking exchanges and remarked “I loved that this time we were warmly welcomed into a Sicilian home.” She especially enjoyed interacting with the members of Club del Fornello Siracusa and “learning more about the rich history of Sicilian food, such as the roots of the famous Pasta alla Norma.” The Club Del Fornello Siracusa also posted on their Facebook page exclaiming (translation) “Once again a cheerful exchange of conviviality, recipes, laughter, hugs, applause for all and many good things to eat…it was a wonderful experience that we hope can happen again.”

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JUNE 22, 2018

NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin: MARINAI POOL SAFETY RULES Command, Department or Organization: Housing Department Location of Event: MARINAI HOUSING COMPLEX, Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4072/1732/33/34/35/38 Point of Contact Email Address: NASSIG-HousingMarinai@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: Please follow the important pool safety rules: 1. Pools cannot be greater than 10 feet in length/diameter with a maximum water fill depth of 24 inches. No Exceptions!

2. Never leave children unattended in pools.

3. Only pools with filtration systems and locked in backyards may be left filled. Backyard fences must be locked if you have a pool in the backyard.

4. All front yard pools must be emptied by the end of the day. No pools with Filtration systems can be left in front yards.

For any questions please email: NASSIG-HousingMarinai@eu.navy.mil

WELLNESS COACHING PROGRAM

Command, Department or Organization: Health Promotion and Wellness Department Dates of Event: Ongoing program Time of Event: By appointment Location of Event: NAS I Midtown, second floor Point of Contact Name: Giuseppe Licari Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4710 Point of Contact Email Address: usn.sigonella.navhospsigonellait.mesg.hp@mail.mil Additional Information: Want to overcome your challenges and master health and well-being to make changes that last? Need help with motivation and follow through?

Join "YOU CAN! Wellness Coaching Program" and we will help you find your pathway to lasting change.

Most of us know what we need to do to feel our best but never seem to get around to doing it, or struggle with following through. A coach partners with you to prioritize what matters most and follow through with a specific plan of action.

To set up an appointment call Health Promotion at 624-4710 or email usn.sigonella. navhospsigonellait.mesg.hp@mail.mil.

Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Tuesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 Chapel Youth Middle School: . . . . . . . . . . . 1445-1615 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Wednesday Protestant Men of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 Thursday Chapel Youth High School: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1500 Choir Practice: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1545-1700 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: 1800-2030

Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel

Friday Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . 1700-1830 Saturday First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sunday Catholic Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education: . . . . . . . . . . 1045-1200 Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600

NAS 2 Tuesday AA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1730-1830 Wednesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . 1830-2100 Thursday Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200

Weekly Traffic Report: June 11 - June 18, 2018

As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.

JUNE 22, 2018

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JUNE 22, 2018

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JUNE 22, 2018

GAMEZONE JALAPENOS MONTEREY JACK MOZZARELLA MUSHROOMS OLIVE OIL ONIONS OYSTERS PARMESAN PEPPERONI PROVOLONE RICOTTA SALAMI SAUSAGE SHRIMP SPINACH TOMATO SAUCE TOMATOES ZUCCHINI

MEDIUM

ARTICHOKE HEARTS ASIAGO ASPARAGUS BACON BANANA PEPPERS BASIL BELL PEPPERS BLACK OLIVES BROCCOLI CRUST EGGPLANT FETA GARLIC GOAT CHEESE GOUDA GREEN OLIVES GROUND BEEF HAM

EASY

Find and circle all of the pizza ingredients and toppings that are hidden in the grid.

The remaining letters spell four additional pizza toppings.

DIFFICULT

Pizza

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PAGE 14 "ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 (viceroy of Sicily) to support the local population that was threatened by Etna’s eruptions between 1669 and 1670. The prince was so fascinated by the amazing landscape of the Faraglioni Riviera that he wanted to build a city along the coastline.

Shortly after that erection of the church, the people of Acitrezza asked for the making of a statue depicting San Giovanni Battista. Historians have conflicting opinions on who carved this beautiful sculpture. Some believe that the sculptor was a trizzoto (Acitrezza resident) named Castorina while others think it was another person named Lo Faro.

Legend says that the artist shut himself up inside the Palazzo del Principe di Acitrezza (Palace of the Prince of Acitrezza) for three months and until the statue was finished. He would accept food only if it was lowered from the palace’s roof whose tiles were temporarily removed. Therefore, nobody saw the statue until it was completed. When the sculpture was finished, it was placed in small niche above the main altar named “Cammaredda,” where it is still preserved up to today.

It’s been over 300 years and trizzoti still celebrate with deep devotion to their patron saint!

Festival Schedule On June 23, the eve of the main festival day, at the end of the holy mass celebrated at 7 p.m., the saint relics are brought in by procession (around 8 p.m.) escorted by the city band through the following roads: Marina, Provinciale, up to the “Casa Cantoniera,” Spagnola, Muscarà, Ferretti, Provinciale, Capparelli, Gondar, Grasso, Tunisi, Capparelli, piazza (square) delle Scuole, Dietro Chiesa, Leopolda and back to the Parrocchia di San Giovanni Battista.

June 24 is the highlight of the celebrations. Festival starts at 10 a.m. with the moving unveiling of the statue. At 10:30, the archbishop of Acireale celebrates holy mass at the St. John the Baptist Parish.

In the afternoon, a spectacular folklore pantomime named the “U pisci a mari” (the fish in the sea) is staged in the Urnazza district on the southern side of Acitrezza at 5 p.m. It symbolizes an ancient rite of propitiation for swordfish fishing. The pantomime

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starts with a group of three actors playing the fishermen in castoff dresses and tied together by a rope reaching the pier, dancing and singing among a large crowd. They board a boat that is decorated with flowers and yellow and red ribbons, the colors of the saint. The fourth actor is a skilled swimmer, who plays the swordfish and jumps into the water. A fifth performer plays the role of “Raisi” (the crew leader) who places himself on the highest point of the pier and gives directions to capture the fish. A desperate attempt to catch the swordfish ensues, representing the ongoing fight that man engages with the forces of nature to provide the food for his survival.

Later at 7 p.m., a solemn procession starts from piazza Giovanni Verga. Devotees screaming “Viva San Giovanni”(long live St. John) escort the saint’s statue through the following roads: Provinciale, Leopolda, Calamenzana, Dietro Chiesa, Cappello, Fontana Vecchia, Lungomare Ciclopi, Porto Nuovo (stopping at the pier where the Stele of S. Giovanni Battista is placed and flowers are offered to the saint), Magrì, Gibuti, Gondar, Guarnaccia, Grasso, Tunisi, Capparelli, Piazza delle Scuole, Largo Medusa and back to the Parrocchia di San Giovanni.

At 8 p.m., the “Calata dell’Angelo” (descent of the angel) is staged. This performance features the descent of an angel that pays homage to the touring statue of the saint on behalf of the city districts.

At 9 p.m., a concert featuring the Santo Stefano Protomartire Band is held in the main square.

At the end of the tour (around 11:30 p.m.), devotees perform the “A cussa” (the run) which consists of covering the last route of the procession (along Via Provinciale) running while carrying the statue. A spectacular firework show ends the festivities while the statue is placed back into the Parrochia di San Giovanni.

On the last day of the festival, June

JUNE 22, 2018 25, holy mass is celebrated at 11:30 a.m. at the St John Parish.

In the evening at 7 p.m., a procession leaves from Piazza Giovanni Verga. The saint is paraded through the following roads: Provinciale, Ricca, Muscarà, Ferretti, Spagnola, Livorno, Scalazza (stopping at the Church of S. Maria la Nova), Dusmet, Calabretta, Marina, Vico Musumeci. During the procession, the “Calata dell’Angelo” (descent of the angel) and a spectacular run while carrying the statue are also performed.

At midnight, a fireworks show ends the festival.

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"SPOTLIGHT" continued from Page 3 this place better, and finding ways to be proactive. It took a while to get acclimated but I love it; I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

On top of his day job, Neal works as a residential adviser (RA) at the barracks, volunteers with the First Responders Association, and is both the Public Affairs Officer and Educational Director for the Drug Education For Youth (DEFY) Program.

"Mattis" continued from Page 7 Defeating Terrorism "It is the urgency of this fight that compels us all to act decisively against terrorism, denying terrorists the safe haven they seek and carrying out this counterterrorism campaign, by with and through our allies and partners with over 70 nations united in the defeat-ISIS campaign and 41 nations united under NATO's flag to defeat terrorism in Afghanistan," Mattis said.

The United States views Russia as the nation closest to ours in nuclear parity, and it has proven willing to use conventional and irregular power in violation of international norms, the secretary said.

"For the first time since World War II, Russia has been the nation that has redrawn international borders by force of arms in Georgia and Ukraine while pursuing veto authority over neighbors' diplomatic, economic and security decisions," Mattis said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to shatter NATO, and he aims to diminish the appeal of the Western democratic model and undermine America's moral authority, the secretary said. "[Putin's] actions are designed not to challenge our arms at this point, but to undercut and compromise our belief in our ideals," Mattis said.

Open International Order There is a potential rivalry with China, as it harbors long-term designs to rewrite the existing global order, Mattis said, adding that after World War II, the U.S. and its allies and partners built the open international order that's benefited global prosperity.

"It's unrealistic to believe today that China

PAGE 15 “The DEFY program is a really great cause that I encourage parents to sign their children up to participate in,” said Neal. “We have a summer camp coming up on July 23 – 26, and also July 30 – August 2.”

When he isn’t working, Neal enjoys reading, exploring Sicily, hiking, and taking ITT tours.

“Sicily is very different from where I came from; it’s refreshing,” said Neal. “I miss home but I enjoy this new culture. The people are all really nice and super friendly.” will not seek to replicate its internal authoritarian model elsewhere as it expands globally," the secretary said.

In response to those competitive challenges of urgency, power and political will, the Defense Department in January released its first National Defense Strategy in more a decade with three lines of effort, Mattis said. They are, he said: building a more lethal military force, strengthening U.S. military alliances and building new partnerships and the reforming and modernizing DoD for greater performance, accountability and affordability to ensure DoD earns the trust of Congress and the American people.

The Future Mattis said he expects the school's graduates "to be at the top of your game mentally, physically and spiritually, and to work to maintain that standard throughout the rest of your career."

The graduates, he added, now have "the credentials to measure up in the crucible of combat, and your character must do the rest."

The students' yearlong education at the college has prepared them well to integrate naval, joint and coalition campaigns across all domains of air, land and sea - and space and cyberspace, Mattis said.

"We are counting on you graduates to live and breathe the 'fighting admiral' ethos, regardless of your rank or position, branch of service or nationality," he said.

"Keep your wits about you, keep your grace under fire, your civility with subordinates; inspiring those you lead with humility and intellectual rigor, and reconciling war's grim realities with your political leaders' aspirations," Mattis said.

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JUNE 22, 2018